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Liverpool are insisting Divock Origi cannot join Borussia Dortmund on loan without an obligation for the German club to buy the striker.

Dortmund remain in talks over a deal to sign Origi before the end of August, with the Germans trying to make a breakthrough.

Liverpool’s initial £27million valuation was considered too high by Dortmund, who would prefer to take the Belgian on a season-long loan.

But, with just two years remaining on Origi’s contract, Liverpool will only loan out the 23-year-old if there is an agreement Dortmund buy him at the end of it.

Liverpool do not want to allow Origi’s value to drop, along with his contract, while he is playing elsewhere and leave open the prospect of him returning with only 12 months left on his deal next year.

Having initially wanted to sell Danny Ings for £24m this summer, Liverpool eventually allowed him to join Southampton on loan ahead of a pre-agreed permanent move worth £18m plus £2m add-ons.

Origi was signed for £10m from Lille in 2014Credit:
REUTERS

Liverpool and Dortmund could strike a similar deal over Origi if the two clubs can agree on the final figure and when the move would become permanent.

Origi would be interested in joining Dortmund, but is also happy at Liverpool and still believes he could compete for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

Should he stay at Anfield this month, then Origi will only have 18 months remaining on his contract in the January transfer window and Liverpool would find themselves in an even tougher bargaining position.

Origi spent last season at Wolfsburg and went through an up-and-down time during a turbulent spell on and off the pitch for the Bundesliga club.

He returned to Liverpool hoping to fight for his place, but has been told he can go if the right offer arrives.

Liverpool signed Origi for £10m from Lille in the summer of 2014, but he was immediately loaned back to the French club for the following campaign before moving to Anfield in 2015.